Folding substructure



H. J. NQOLSLAYER AL,

FOLDING SUBSTRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Gtornegs.

@j J. WQQLSLAYER ET AL I FOLDING SUBSTRUCTQRE Filed. May 22 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VENToRs www Patented Mar. 8, 1949 UNITED S TATES 'OFF ICE FOLDING .sUBsrnUcTURE Application May 22, 1947 Serial No. 749,796

'6 Claims.

This invention relates to substructures ior oil well derricks and the like, and more .particularly to substructures for portable derricks.

In vthe building of portable .derrick structures it frequently is found that floor space in addition to that normally used is required. The size oi the substructure, however, is limited by dimensions suitable for highway transportation. For this reason it is common practice to build an auxiliary iioor or walkway beside the main substructure and to connect them together by removable brackets. Although it would be more convenient to lhinge the extension to 'the main substructure so that they .could be folded together for transportation, ordinary .hinges would project above the door level and thus lprove a hazard to workmen on the oor.

1t is among the objects of this invention to provide a substructure which has a lateral 4extension that can be folded over onto the substructure, and which is hinged Yto the extension by means which do not project above the floor. Another object is to provide an improved .bracket for connecting a floor extension to a substructure or the like,

In accordance with this invention a plurality of .laterally spaced vertical socket members are rigidly connected to a side of a substructure that supports a main door. These members are located below the floor .level and outwardly beyond its edge. A plug member, slidably mounted in each socket, projects above it. Extending horizontally away from the same side of the substructure are substantially parallel bars for supporting a floor extension. Means are provided for supporting the outer ends of these bars, such as braces detachably connected to the substructure. The inner ends of the 'bars are pivotally connected on a horizontal axis to the upper ends of the plug members. W'hen it is desired to fold the floor extension `over onto the main floor, the plugs are raised the .sockets so that the bars can be swung upwardly and then inwardly and down over the substructure. If desired, the positions of the plug and socket members can be reversed, with the plugs secured to the side of the substructure.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the following drawings in which Fig. l is a fragmentary plan view, partly broken away, of our substructure and extension; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section; Fig. 3 is a View similar to the preceding view, but with the floor extension vfolded back onto the main door; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section through one 2 of the connecting brackets taken on the -l-ine IV-IV of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, a substructure is formed .from parallel horizontal I-beams I connected together by transverse beams 2. Planks are vlaid .on .the substructure to iorm a main floor 3"'for a portable derrick or other structure (not shown). .At `onecr moresides of the substructure the floor is extended outwardly to provide ya greater floor area. The drawings show such .a floor extension i formed from planks at one side of the substructure. These planks yrest on and are secured to parallel angle bars 6 extending horizontally .away from the adjacenty .side of the substructure. The bars are .arranged in .pairs having their vertical flanges .adjacent .each other, but not touching. The outer ends of the bars in each pair are spaced apart by a metal lspool 'I Fig l) through which a bolt 8 extends, while their inner ends are spaced apart by .a U'shape connecting member or spacci' 9. such as shown in Fig; 4. A pivot pin or bolt 'Ill 'pivotally con# nects the bars to the spacer.

Welded to the bottom of spacer '9 is the upper end of a long plug f2 which may be in the form of a short `length .of pipe. This plug is slidably mounted in a vertical tubular socket I3 likewise formed from a short length of pipe. The `socket is supported in xed position by a pair of parallel vertical plates 't4 tothe outer edges. of which it is welded. The plates are Welded to the .sidebeam l of the substructure and Vproject a short distance beyond 4the nan-ges of that beam. The spacer normally'rests on top of .the socket with the upper flanges of bars E in. substantially the same lplane as vthe upper surface of the substructure.

IThe outer ends of "the bars may be supported in any suitable manner, but preferably by inclined braces 'I6 the outer ends of which are piv'otally mounted on 'bolts 3. The inner ends of the braces are detae'hably connected to the lower portions of plates iii by lmeans of bolts .I'I extending through .them; Short sleeves I8 maybe welded `to the outer ends of the horizontal 'bars for receiving hand rail posts.

It will be seen in Fig. 2 that there are no hinges nor other connections projecting up between the main oor and the floor extension. When it is desired to transport the substructure with its extension to a new location, the bolts I1 that hold the lower ends of the braces are removed and then the oor extension is lifted to lift the supporting bars 6. This pulls the plugs I2 upwardly in sockets I3 and allows the bars to be swung upwardly as shown in broken lines in Fig. 2. The

bars are swung up through their vertical position and then inwardly and down over the substructure until the lioor extension lies flat on the main floor as shown in Fig. 3 and as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 4. The side of the extension nearest the plugs is notched at I9 (Fig. 4) to receive the plugs when the extension is folded. The unit now is narrow enough to transport over a highway. The telescoping connection between plugs and sockets permits the extension to accommodate itself to oor planks of different thicknesses when the unit is folded.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, we have explained the principle and construction of our invention and have illustrated and described what we now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, we desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

We claim:

1. A iloor extension bracket for a substructure carrying a main floor, said bracket comprising a pair of telescoping vertical plug and socket members, connecting means adapted to rigidly connect one of said members to a side of said substructure, a bar normally extending horizontally away from said members and adapted to support a floor extension, a support for supporting the outer end of said bar, and pivot means pivotally connecting the inner end of the bar on a horizontal axis to the upper end of the other of said members, whereby when said other member is raised relative to said one member, said bar can be swung upwardly and then inwardly and down over said substructure.

2. a floor extension bracket for a substructure carrying a main oor, said bracket comprising a vertical socket member adapted to be rigidly connected to a side of said substructure, a plug slidably mounted in the socket and projecting above it, substantially parallel spaced bars normally extending horizontally away from the upper end of said plug and being adapted to support a floor extension, a support for supporting the outer ends of the bars, and pivot means extending horizon-A tally through the inner ends of the bars for pivotally connecting them to the upper end of the plug, whereby when said plug is raised in the socket, said bars can be swung upwardly and then inwardly and down over said substructure. l 3. A floor extension bracket for a substructure carrying a main floor, said bracket comprising a vertical socket member adapted to be rigidly connected to a side of said substructure, a plug slidably mounted in the socket and projecting above it, a connecting member rigidly mounted on the upper end of the plug, substantially parallel spaced bars straddling said connecting member and normally extending horizontally away from it, said bars being adapted to support a floor extension, a support for supporting the outer ends 4 of the bars, and a pivot pin extending horizontally through said connecting member and the inner ends of the bars, whereby when the plug is raised in the socket, said bars can be swung upwardly and then inwardly and down over said substructure.

4. The combination with a substructure for supporting a main floor, of a pair of telescoping vertical plug and socket members, connecting means rigidly connecting one of said members to a side of said substructure below the floor level and outwardly beyond the edge of the floor, a bar normally extending horizontally away from said side of the substructure for supporting a floor extension, a support for supporting the outer end of said bar, and pivot means pivotally connecting the inner end of the bar on a horizontal axis to the upper end of the other of said members, whereby when said other member is raised relative to said one member, said bar can be swung upwardly and then inwardly and down over said substructure. g'

5. The combination with a substructure for supporting a main i'loor, of laterally spaced vertical socket members rigidlyr connected to a side of said substructure below the floor level and outwardly beyond the edge of the floor, a plug slidably mounted in each socket and projecting above it, substantially parallel bars normally eX- tending horizontally away from said side of the substructure for supporting a oor extension, supports for supporting the outer ends of said bars, and pivot means pivotally connecting the inner ends of the bars on a horizontal axis to the upper ends of the plugs, Wherebywhen said plugs are raised in said sockets, said bars can be swung upwardly and then inwardly and down over said substructure.

6. The combination with a substructure totV supporting a main oor, of laterally spaced ver- -tical socket members rigidly 4connected to a side of said substructure below the floor level and outwardly beyond the edge of the floor, a plug slidably mounted in each socket and projecting above it, a connecting member rigidly mounted on the upper end of the plug, substantially parallel spaced bars straddling said connecting member and normally extending horizontally away from it for supporting a iioor extension, a brace connected to the outer ends of the bars, means for detachably connecting the inner end of the brace to the substructure, and a pivot pin extending horizontally through said connecting member and the inner ends of the bars, whereby when said brace is disconnected from the substructure the plug can be raised in said socket and said bars then can be swung upwardly and then inwardly and down over the substructure to fol the oor extension over the main oor.

HOMER J. WOOLSLAYER.y CECIL JENKINS.

No referencescited. 

